Earthquake Catastrophe in Japan

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit the northeast of Honshu, Japan's main island, on March 11. It was the strongest ever recorded in the country, and triggered a 10-meter-high tsunami along the northeast coast. By 10:00 pm local time, March 13, confirmed deaths had reached 1,217 and 1,086 people were missing. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao immediately expressed "deep sympathy and condolences to the Japanese government and people."  Wen, on behalf of the Chinese government, sent a message to Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan that China is will provide assistance. China's International Rescue Team arrived in Japan on the night of March 13, and the Red Cross Society of China sent emergency aid worth RMB one million to its Japanese counterpart.